Customer Reviews

Sisters & Brothers

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Some might say that Maria Muldaur, Rory Block and Eric Bibb are as unalike as they are alike. But it's their "unalikeness" wrapped into their likeness that makes this recording something special. This album plays like a joint effort of three old friends having a jam session of sorts. Its totally relaxed, yet full of fervor, wit, and definitive blues/gospel singing. Some of the standouts are Block's version of Bill Wither's "Lean On Me" with great harmony from Muldaur, Bibb's take on Dylan's "Gotta Serve Somebody" and Muldaur's "Bessie's Advice" (cowritten with Bibb). That's just the icing. There's plenty more including two of Block's standards "Rolling Log" and "Maggie Campbell" where one gets to hear her wonderful guitar playing which sounds as fresh as ever. Bibb's languid, bluesy take on "Little Rain" is right on the money! Things close with Muldaur performing one of her old chestnuts, "My Brothers and Sisters". At the end when she cries out "Hallelujah..Thank Ya!..Thank Ya!" one knows that they've just experienced three great talents doing what they were born to do! If you're a fan of music at its most basic and stirring, this recording is a must! NOTE: Amazon has the son listings in the wrong order.

P.S. Please make another trip to Unity and do it again!!

I was drawn to this album due to my admiration of Maria Muldaur and her vocals on this album are truly superb. It is not pop nor blues. This is a folk album if it must be categorized and the songs are fantastic. There is true life and spirit in every track. It is invigorating and I found myself drawn into listen to each and ever song and once the album was over, I wanted more. I admire Maria for taking part with Eric Bibb and Rory Block. As one other reviewer suggested, they should go back to that barn in Unity, Maine and do another album. Unity is the message of this album. It is uplifting but not "preachy". The songs such as "Lean On Me", "Bessie's Advice", have soul and a message of brotherhood. I love this album and when it is over, it is easy to hit "Replay". I cannot recommend this great album which deserves five stars if not more, highly enough. It is so fine!

A little background: I wouldn't describe myself as a blues (or whatever variation of blues this is) fan and I'd never heard of any of the people on this CD before I stumbled onto this album, but the samples sounded interesting and one of Amazon's Marketplace sellers was selling it cheap so I tried it. That said...

This is great stuff. I'm not a big fan of the first track (Rock Daniel), but as a whole this is genuinely engaging. The best music compels me to stop everything I'm doing and give it my full attention and this does that in spades.

You can get an idea of the music listening to the samples online but they don't do justice to what you'll hear listening to the SACD multichannel version on a nice system. Performances and recording are flawless. Surrounds place the listener on the stage with the performers on most tracks. Main performers are up front, but background vocals and instruments have a strong presence in the surrounds on several tracks. My subwoofer even gets used a little and it only kicks in for the lowest material. Definitely a strong multichannel mix that may not may not be to everyone's tastes but it really works for me. This hybrid disk has a CD layer as well as high resolution SACD stereo and 5.1 versions but I've only listened to the SACD 5.1 version.

Recommended without hesitation.

52'10"

Just where the (?<&%!) did this jewel come from? Oh yeah, Unity, Maine. Hey, I'll chip in money for a return visit.

Basically found this doing a picture seach on Ms. Muldaur, bought it on account of her and her incredible collaborative work. I had no idea what to expect other than quality and pretty good roots to the blues. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED.

Even if you're a casual fan of any one of these three artists you need to get this (you need to get it anyway, face it now) because everyone wins on this recording - they all shine, support and compliment each other in amazing ways. The real winners are those of us who just program 'repeat' before we hit play.

These are not people who phone in their tracks and leave it it up to a programmer to mix them and clean 'em up. These are MUSICIANS who value their craft, love to play, love to play WELL with OTHERS and soar places that probably surprise even themselves.

We're the winners, be a winner -- get it -- small price for sheer bliss.

Acoustic guitar on Eric's hands sounds very authentically. Bass strings go out on fronts, and nylons on surrounds. Voices are all around. I got a live performance impression. Stuff selection is multicolloured with strong jazz-blues layout. Blues fans should be listen, and buy this SACD.

Is it that SACD truly sounds better, or is it that the people who care enough to make it in SACD format already care enough about how it sounds to make sure it is a great recording? Either way, this album is great; sounds wonderful. Play it where others can hear it at and you will make new converts to great Blues music!

Great music and a fantastic sound production, this is Eric Bibb in one of his best environments. Except for the first track is this a very enjoyable and relaxing CD, perfect 7 days a week.

I only recently discovered Eric Bibb as a result of a recommendation on Bonnie Raitt's site. Well, my only regret is all the years I've missed not hearing this smooth, throaty, bluesy wonderful voice. This is the third or forth CD of his I've purchased since that discovery only weeks ago, and I have yet to be disappointed. And Maria Muldaur and Rory Block will knock you out. This is agreat combination of talent. Just buy it!!

This CD has some fabulous music...but I wish AMAZON would list the artists performing each track...or AT LEAST enable the 30-second clip of each song, so prospective buyers can break the code for themselves. Please get with it, AMAZON.

Telarc recording. One of the best sounding CDs I've heard in a long time. And the music is just fun.